The imperative - आसानी से व्याकरण सीखे

Commands and orders

The imperative is used to give commands and orders. The form of the verb used for the imperative is the base form of the main verb, which is used without a subject.

Walkto the corner,turnright, andcrossthe road.

Openyour mouth andsay‘Aaaah’.

Although the main feature of sentences in the imperative is that they have no grammatical subject, they do have an understood subject, ‘you’.

The basic form of the imperative remains the same whether it is addressed to one or more people.

Come on,Mary; I’m waiting.

Come on,girls; you’re late.

There is also a special type of imperative, using let’s, that is used when you need to include the speaker. See The imperative.The word order of a sentence in the imperative is:verb + object (if needed).The negative imperative is made with do + not or don’t.

Don’t losethat key.

Do not come backwithout it!

The uses of the imperative are as follows:

to give an order.

Goaway.

Stopthat.

Keepquiet.

to give instructions.

Don’t usethis spray near a naked flame.

Applythe glue thinly andleaveit for ten minutes.

to give advice or warnings.

Don’t forgetto take your passport with you.

Becareful!

Don’t goon the ice.

to make an offer or an invitation.

Havea piece of cake.

Comeround andseeme some time.

The imperative of do + a main verb can be used:

for polite emphasis.

Do takeyour coat off.

to be persuasive.

Do tryto eat a little of this; it will be good for you.

to show irritation.

Do stoptalking! I’m trying to work.

Note that the imperative is not the only way to form a command or an order. You can also issue a command when you use a sentence in the declarative or the interrogative.

I’m certainly not going to get it –you get it.

Would you get it, then? I’m busy.

Making suggestions

Let’s (let + us) + main verb is used in the 1st person plural only, especially when you are trying to encourage someone to do something with you.It includes both the speaker and the hearer, so the subject that is understood is represented by the plural we.

Let’s visitMalcolm this weekend.

Please let’s goto the cinema tonight.

Do let’s havea look at your new computer, Chris.

Let’s poolour resources.

Suggestions which start with let’s often end with the sentence tag shall we?

Let’s phoneher now,shall we?

Let’s gofor a walk after supper,shall we?

In ordinary English the negative is let’s not + main verb or sometimes don’t let’s + main verb.

Let’s not worryabout that now.

Don’t let’s worryabout that now.

In formal English, the negative is let us not + main verb.

Let usnot losesight of our aims.

Do let’s is the emphatic form.

It’s a very good bargain;do let’s buyit!

The uncontracted form let us + main verb is occasionally used in formal and written English.

Let us beclear about this.

Let ushope that this will never happen again.

The answer to a suggestion with let’s is normally either, yes, let’s or no, let’s not or sometimes, no, don’t let’s (…).